SW Mod 19

[Venture8]

I own two SW mod 19 revolvers. Both are marked .357 magnum.
However one of them has a .38 special cylinder. I have been to gun shows and found several of these .38 special cylinders on Mod 19 guns marked .357 magnum. Is there any explanation for this?

 

[kudzu3]

Curious (?).

 

[JCS&W]

Venture8, are you saying that the cylinder would ONLY accept .38 special rounds, and would not accept .357 rounds?

A .357 cylinder will accept .38 special rounds. But I am a bit confused by your question.

 

[blue70chevelle]

he is getting confused in the nominal cylinder length between a recessed magnum cylinder (pre 1980) and a non recessed cylinder (post 1980)

The answer to your question is, is that all Model 19's (aswell as all magnum chambered guns) had there cylinders recessed so that the round would sit flush into the cylinder. This created a longer cylinder length. In 1980, S&W changed this and created the non recessed cylinder. This made the cylinder shorter in overall length, which could give the appearance of a .38 cylinder in a .357 window. This will be most notable in the difference between 19-4 and 19-5 models. That is when the change occurred.
Hope that helps

 

[blue70chevelle]

for illustrative purposes, the gun on the left is a model 19-4 with a recessed cylinder. notice the rim of the cases are seated below surface level of the cylinder. That makes for a longer cylinder and there is no noticeable gap when the cylinder is closed between the cylinder and the blast shield. the gun on the right is a model 19-5 with a non recessed cylinder. all of the above mentioned is opposite.

 

[Hapworth]

he is getting confused in the nominal cylinder length between a recessed magnum cylinder (pre 1980) and a non recessed cylinder (post 1980)

The answer to your question is, is that all Model 19's (aswell as all magnum chambered guns) had there cylinders recessed so that the round would sit flush into the cylinder. This created a longer cylinder length. In 1980, S&W changed this and created the non recessed cylinder. This made the cylinder shorter in overall length, which could give the appearance of a .38 cylinder in a .357 window. This will be most notable in the difference between 19-4 and 19-5 models. That is when the change occurred.
Hope that helps

Thar be answer.

 

[Hapworth]

for illustrative purposes, the gun on the left is a model 19-4 with a recessed cylinder. notice the rim of the cases are seated below surface level of the cylinder. That makes for a longer cylinder and there is no noticeable gap when the cylinder is closed between the cylinder and the blast shield. the gun on the right is a model 19-5 with a non recessed cylinder. all of the above mentioned is opposite.

Blue, I'm having a hard time seeing in the pictures exactly what you're describing. Could you send those revolvers to me so I can have a closer look?

 

[Venture8]

Thank all of you for the explanation. The curious thing that a 357 case does not fit in my non recessed cylinder.

Venture8

 

[blue70chevelle]

Thank all of you for the explanation. The curious thing that a 357 case does not fit in my non recessed cylinder.

Venture8

Its very well possible that your gun has been fired with only .38 rounds for so long that a build up of gunk/carbon/whatever has been created that will not allow a longer .357 case to seat. This is fairly common in a .357 that hasn't had .357 fired in it in a long time or even never for that matter.
It is possible to have a .38 only cylinder on the gun, but it would be highly unusual.
you can refer to this thread where they have a similar problem seating rounds.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/179667-357-wont-seat-cylinder.html

 

[blue70chevelle]

Blue, I'm having a hard time seeing in the pictures exactly what you're describing. Could you send those revolvers to me so I can have a closer look?

Nice try smarty pants. Although I wouldn't be out much if I did send them to you. I just picked up both in with the last month.. I got $100 in the 19-4 and $250 in the 19-5..

 

[BigBill]

Did they shoot 38 special out of it for a longtime and it has the ridge of fouling in the cylinder? Where these trade in cops guns?

 

[Venture8]

That is correct. The .357 shell casing could be inserted but would not go all the way in (it stuck out about 1/4 inch from rear of cylinder)

 

[viceunit]

I have a 19-2 bought from the widow of a co-worker. He was on the pistol team and probably shot thousands of .38 wadcutter loads out of that gun. And, since we did not use .357 magnum as an issued duty round, I doubt the gun ever chambered or fired a .357 round.

When I got it, it would chamber a .357 only with great difficulty. And then it would not eject once fired. A Lewis lead remover could not remove the carbon ring. I eventually chucked a stainless chamber brush in a cordless drill and went to town. After about a 1/2 hour of work, .357 rounds drop right in.

 

[old bear]

38 Special cylinder on M-19.

It is my UNDERSTANDING that a number of M-19 were produced with a 38 special cylinder installed. This was done at the request of several governments, who issued these to their national police and military.

So the O/P may have a trade in, re-import revolver.

 

[Hapworth]

38 Special cylinder on M-19.

It is my UNDERSTANDING that a number of M-19 were produced with a 38 special cylinder installed. This was done at the request of several governments, who issued these to their national police and military.

So the O/P may have a trade in, re-import revolver.

You're correct, but the ones I'm aware of had .38 Special designations on the barrel; OP states his has .357 stamps, and that he's encountered several more .357 stamped, .38 cylindered Model 19s like it. I could see the occasional mis-stamp on a special order .38 only Model 19, but several of these out there the OP keeps finding?

Possible, but more likely these are the shorter, non-recessed .357 cylinders mistaken for .38. Happy to be proven wrong -- in fact, I'd like to be, it'd be interesting to discover that a lot of these are out there if they're factory -- but some proof is needed.

 

[model70hunter]

Blue, I'm having a hard time seeing in the pictures exactly what you're describing. Could you send those revolvers to me so I can have a closer look?

I think he may have a spare 38 case for ya.

I might imagine the real blue 70 Chevelle may have the rat motor which has 8 longer cylinders and is not recessed.

 

[model70hunter]

I own two SW mod 19 revolvers. Both are marked .357 magnum.
However one of them has a .38 special cylinder. I have been to gun shows and found several of these .38 special cylinders on Mod 19 guns marked .357 magnum. Is there any explanation for this?

How can you tell at a gun show? Are the cylinders marked?

My 19 is in the safe and I don't remember are the SN digits on the cylinder? Maybe the last 3?